Donating stem cells or bone marrow to a relative. A brother or sister is most likely to be a match. There is a 1 in 4 chance of your cells matching. This is called a matched related donor (MRD) transplant. Anyone else in the family is unlikely to match. This can be very frustrating for relatives who are keen to help. If you are a part match
Because of this, doctors prefer donors in the 18 to 35 age group. Age guidelines are not meant to discriminate. They are meant to protect the safety of the donor and provide the best possible outcome for the patient. The lower age limit is based on the legal age of consent.
Join online. If you are between the ages of 18 and 35 patients especially need you. Research shows that cells from younger donors lead to more successful transplants. Doctors request donors in the 18-35 age group nearly 75% of the time.
How old do you have to be to donate bone marrow? A person must be at least 18 to donate because donation is a medical procedure and the person must be able to give legal informed consent. Also, because it’s a voluntary procedure a guardian or parent can’t sign a release or give consent for someone under age 18.
If you have or have had a sexually transmitted disease such as herpes, HPV, chlamydia or syphilis you are eligible to register for the Be The Match Registry. See AIDS/HIV and/or Hepatitis, if applicable.
Medical guidelines are in place to protect your health as a potential donor, as well as the health of transplant patients. Many factors may make a person medically ineligible to join the Be The Match Registry ®.
Be The Match ® is focused on recruiting people ages 18 to 35 because medical research shows that younger donors are best for patients and provide the greatest chance for transplant success. Because of this, doctors prefer donors in the 18 to 35 age group.
You are not able to register if you have a serious bleeding problem such as hemophilia or Factor V Leiden, or if you have ever had a deep vein blood clot, require anticoagulant medications, have aplastic anemia, or Von Willbrand’s Disease.
If you have elevated blood pressure (hypertension), you may register if your condition is well-controlled by medication or diet and if there is no associated heart disease. See Heart Disease/Stroke, if applicable.
If you have had a significant brain injury or had surgery in the brain tissue — even if currently recovered and asymptomatic — you are not able to register. See Heart Disease/Stroke, if applicable.
If you have a history of chemical dependency and/or mental health issues you may be allowed to register. In general, if you have completed chemical dependency treatment, have maintained sobriety for at least 12 months, are currently sober and you have no physical ailments that may put you at risk during donation, you are allowed to register.
The first step to being someone's cure is to join Be The Match Registry ®. If you are between the ages of 18-44, committed to donating to any patient in need, and meet the health guidelines, there are two ways to join.
When you join Be The Match Registry, your tissue type is added to the registry. It’s not a marrow donation; you don't actually donate until you are a match for a patient. Learn more about what it means to be a possible match for a patient.
At Be The Match our goal is to find a cure for patients and protect the safety of both patients and donors. This includes promoting donor advocacy and offering support and education throughout the entire donation process. Find out more about donor safety and support.
You can take a pain reliever for the discomfort. You'll likely be able to get back to your normal routine within a couple of days, but it may take a couple of weeks before you feel fully recovered.
Peripheral blood stem cell donation. If blood stem cells are going to be collected directly from your blood, you'll be given injections of a medication to stimulate the production of blood stem cells so that more of them are circulating in your bloodstream.
There are two broad types of stem cells: embryonic and bone marrow stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are studied in therapeutic cloning and other types of research. Bone marrow stem cells are formed and mature in the bone marrow and are then released into the bloodstream. This type of stem cell is used in the treatment of cancers.
After the surgery, you might feel tired or weak and have trouble walking for a few days. The area where the bone marrow was taken out might feel sore for a few days.
Every year, thousands of people in the U.S. are diagnosed with life-threatening diseases, such as leukemia or lymphoma, for which a stem cell transplant is the best or the only treatment. Donated blood stem cells are needed for these transplants.
HLAs are proteins found in most cells in your body. This test helps match donors and recipients. A close match increases the chances that the transplant will be a success. If you sign up with a donor registry, you may or may not be matched with someone who needs a blood stem cell transplant.
Needles will be inserted through the skin and into the bone to draw the marrow out of the bone. This process usually takes one to two hours.
A person must be at least 18 to donate because donation is a medical procedure and the person must be able to give legal informed consent. Also, because it’s a voluntary procedure a guardian or parent can’t sign a release or give consent for someone under age 18.
Everyone on Be The Match Registry is critical to saving lives. Once you become a registry member, you are listed on the registry until the age of 61, unless you request to be removed from the registry before then.
Bone marrow donation is one of two methods of collecting blood forming cells for bone marrow transplants. Bone marrow donation is a surgical procedure that takes place in a hospital operating room. Doctors use needles to withdraw liquid marrow (where the body’s blood-forming cells are made) from both sides of the back of your pelvic bone.
Bone marrow donation is an important commitment to help save a life. Understanding the process, recovery and side effects can help you decide if donating is right for you.
You will remain on the registry until your 61st birthday unless you request to be removed. Be The Match Registry ® members are changed to an inactive status on the registry on their 61st birthday and are no longer available for patient searches. There are two main reasons:
Diagnosis of scoliosis, if no history of surgery or if the rods/pins have been removed and you are fully recovered. Diagnosis of degenerative disc disease. If you have significant back problems and/or any questions regarding your medical condition, contact your local donor center.
Bone marrow donation guidelines protect the health of donors and the patients receiving donated cells. These guidelines ensure that it is safe for you to donate and that your donation will provide the best possible outcome for the patient.
Bone marrow donation guidelines. These bone marrow donation guidelines provide an overview of many medical conditions. They do not include every medical situation that may prevent you from donating. It’s important to note that marrow donation guidelines are not the same as blood donation guidelines. If you have questions about these guidelines ...
Common back problems such as sprains, strains and aches should not interfere with a marrow donation. If you have had a single back surgery more than 5 years ago, and have no ongoing symptoms, you may be able to donate. If you have chronic/ongoing back pain (including persistent sciatica and/or numbness) requiring medical treatment (i.e., daily pain meds, physical therapy (PT), chiropractic treatments, etc.) you will not be able to donate.
Marrow or blood-forming cells cannot be collected at any time during pregnancy. If you are pregnant (or attempting to become pregnant), you must be temporarily deferred from donating until fully recovered from the delivery.
In general, if you have mild to moderate osteoarthritis or degenerative arthritis, you may be able to donate. Mild to moderate arthritis is defined as having little impact on daily activities, and is relieved by taking occasional medications. If you have arthritis affecting the spine, your condition will need to be carefully evaluated. If you have severe medical arthritic conditions such as rheumatoid, reactive, psoriatic and advanced stages of other types of arthritis, you will not be allowed to donate.